Page 21 of Everything's Better With You
Leslie dropped his arms to his sides and shoved his hands in his pockets.
“You know what I want,” Les breathed. “But you made me promise we’d talk first.”
Joe placed a hand on his chest. “I did say that.”
It would be so easy to let go.
“I’m so glad you’re here. I can’t wait—”
“Okay, but you’re gonna have to wait. A bit.” Joe patted Les’s pec and let his hand rest there…longingly. Then he sighed. “Go help Barry. Let me start cleaning so I can get settled in. If you get a break later, call me.”
Les searched his eyes and Joe saw his hands twitching as if he wanted to grab Joe and toss him over his shoulder.
The cave man routine might not be a bad thing with Leslie Payton, as long as Joe was in charge.
Les leaned down and Joe was transfixed by his lips. A kiss would be alright, wouldn’t it? Before they laid out their expectations of how they would work and exist together in a small town where everyone knew everyone and everyone talked—
“Hello? Has my new neighbor arrived?”
Les stepped back reluctantly and his blush warmed Joe down to his toes.
Warm. It was muggy, and Joe hadn’t even noticed.Huh.
“Hey, Matt. This is Joe Judd.”
The big, beefy Iowa-corn-fed white dude bro with his hat on backward trotted forward and shook Joe’s hand.
“That’s awesome. Can’t believe we’ve got not one buttwocelebrities on campus this year. Excellent.”
“No celebrities here,” Joe said, quick to nip that in the bud. “I’m just Joe. Nice to meet you, Matt. I was about to come find you to introduce myself and see if you had some cleaning supplies I could borrow?”
Matt grinned. “Abso facto. Got keys to the supply closet as well in case industrial strength is what you’re after.” He snapped his gum and Joe forced himself to keep his eyes steady and straight.
“Thank you!”
He turned to Leslie. “I think we’ve got this handled. I’ll check in with you later?”
He cocked his head to the side and raised his eyebrows to be sure Leslie understood this was not a dismissal but a necessary break.
“We’re talking sooner rather than later,” Les growled close to Joe with his back to Matt. Then he turned, nodded at the kid, and filled up the entry on his way out.
Joe chuckled. “Yes, sir, Coach, sir,” he called after him.
Les snorted as he turned the corner.
“Wow, I can’t believe he’s here,” Matt said. “He’s totally my hero. I feel, like, honored to have shared space with him, you know?”
“I can see that.” He couldn’t even make fun of the kid because he was right. Being around Les was awe-inspiring, but it was different for Joe. He didn’t worship Les for his football prowess or his post-NFL career. He admired the man for his humanity, his optimistic outlook on life. Okay, and he was incredible to look at, and to touch…
“Cool. So, you known him long?”
“Uh, well we met here at Spring Fling when I was a senior.” He wasn’t about to tell this dude bro that he’d wanted him ever since. Nor would he admit that Leslie Payton had ruined him for all other men before they’d even touched. “We’re acquainted.” There. That should suffice.
“Awesome. So let’s go get you some cleaners. This place hasn’t been used for the two years I’ve been here and while I do inspections once a month to make sure there are no leaks or infestations, no one’s cleaned. Sorry, bruh.”
“No worries.” Joe almost believed his cheerful reply.
This was going to take him a week to get cleaned.
